Trillium kurabayashii with Urocystis trillii (Smut)

[Roderick]

Hi,

My Trillium kurabayashii supplied in 2006 from Holland developed smut in June this year.  The RHS after doubting me, confirmed it as Urocystis trillii.  FERA have contacted me for details as it is the first report of it in Europe.  If it came in on these plants other people may have it.  I am told it is untreatable and highly contagious.  The three original plants and seedlings around them were all affected.  The plants were all dug out and sent to the RHS to provide their record samples.  [Of course the plants might have been T. chloropetalum...  However that does not make any difference.]  I shall be watching my other trilliums with apprehension.

If it came in on these commercial plants others may have received it.  Has anyone any experience of this fungus?

I will try to attach some pictures:

1     Three plants collapsing in June after flowering
2     Afflicted stems
3     Afflicted stems
4     Seedling leaf edge
5     Seedling petiole.

Roderick  (Norfolk)

[TheOnionMan]

Sorry to hear of this development, but thanks for sharing the news, photos, and steps taken once the disease was identified.  I'm sure many forumists will be watching this thread to learn of any new developments in the issue.  With the name "trillii", can I assume the disease is particular to the genus Trillium, or does it potentially affect other genera as well.  I wonder if the seedlings were affected by soil pathogens because they sprouted nearby, and whether seed, if it were sown elsewhere, would still contain the disease.

[Lesley Cox]

It certainly looks a terrible thing. We have something nasty here but I don't think it's that.

[Maggi Young]

Hello Roderick, welcome to the Forum.
These are valuable photos to have of this rather nasty plant problem.

These infections are largely thought to be soil borne, I gather, but  it would be well for us all to keep a close check on our plants for any signs of Urocystis trillii

Here are some links of interest......

http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/59350/0012/003/0151.htm      .... there are several pages available to read online of the description of Urocystis trillii

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/nurspest/smut_Trillium.html   

This paper is cited as being useful.... though I have not yet tracked it down online....
Cartwright RD, Walker BE, Templeton GE (1993) Urocystis trillii on Trillium viridescens in Arkansas. Phytopathology 83, 1398. Contact: Dep. Plant Pathol., Univ. Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA

[Roderick]

Hi Maggi,

Thanks for the welcome.

There is a convincing picture of the smut on page 108 of    "Biodiversity of fungi: inventory and monitoring methods"
 By Gregory Michael Mueller, Gerald F. Bills, Mercedes S. Foster.  I gather the spores are long lived in the soil.  Little else of value came of my searching.

Roderick

[Maggi Young]

Some results from a search in the Trillium L Archives:
https://listserv.surfnet.nl/scripts/wa.cgi?S2=TRILLIUM-L&q=Urocystis+trillii&s=&f=&a=&b=

https://listserv.surfnet.nl/scripts/wa.cgi?A2=ind0105&L=TRILLIUM-L&P=R8671

http://www.taunton.com/kg/features/techniques/composttea/kg29compost_ingram1.htm sorry.... link not operational


www.Soilfoodweb.com

[mark smyth]

I see your Trillium smut got a mention in the Plantsman that's just out

[TheOnionMan]

Some results from a search in the Trillium L Archives:
https://listserv.surfnet.nl/scripts/wa.cgi?S2=TRILLIUM-L&q=Urocystis+trillii&s=&f=&a=&b=

https://listserv.surfnet.nl/scripts/wa.cgi?A2=ind0105&L=TRILLIUM-L&P=R8671

http://www.taunton.com/kg/features/techniques/composttea/kg29compost_ingram1.htm

www.Soilfoodweb.com

Maggi, on the 3rd link I'm getting a page not found message.  Tip:  on Maggi's 2nd link to Trillium-L archives, after reading part 1, click on the "Next by Same Author" near the top to read part 2.

Looking at Fred Case's book Trilliums, there is some discussion of disease (such as Botrytis and the "greening disease" caused by mycoplasma organisms that cause abnormalities), but there is no mention of Urocystis.